Sheepskin care
Sheepskin products such as saddle pads, boots, or girths require specific care to maintain their function, appearance, and durability.
- Regular Cleaning: Sheepskin absorbs sweat, grease, and dirt during use. To avoid leather cracking and brittle wool, the products should be washed regularly – ideally with the re-fatting special detergent MELP, which protects both leather and wool.
- Preparation before washing: Before washing, all Velcro fasteners should be closed to avoid damage. Additionally, POLY-FLEX® and SADDLE-FIX® inserts must be removed. Saddle pads should be washed inside out to ensure the sheepskin side is cleaned optimally.
- Washing instructions: For the laundry itself, machine washing is preferred as it is more effective than hand washing. The products should be washed at a maximum of 30°C, preferably with the "Extra Water" option, and a normal spin cycle can be used. It is important to use only MELP as the detergent and to completely avoid fabric softeners and bleach.
- Drying: After washing, the sheepskin products should be removed from the machine immediately. They can be gently dried in the dryer at a maximum of 30 °C or hung in the shade outdoors. During drying, it is helpful to gently shape the product to maintain fit and appearance.
- Care of special products: Additional instructions apply to special products. For saddle girths, plastic inserts should be removed before washing. If the sheepskin is removable, the base girth is washed in a MATTES wash bag, while the sheepskin cover is cleaned separately in the same wash.
MATTES ensures that the lambskins are permanently washable right from the tanning process. With the right care, the products remain soft, functional, and visually high-quality for years – providing durable quality that impresses.
A detailed washing instruction can be found here:
